Dr. Allen J. Hinkle

Lebanon, N.H. - Dr. Allen Hinkle died Saturday, Feb. 18, at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center surrounded by his family. He was 66.

Allen was an extraordinary husband, father, physician and inventor. After completing residencies in pediatrics and anesthesia at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Hinkle briefly practiced medicine at Boston Children's. In 1982, he was hired by Dr. Harry Bird to be the first pediatric anesthesiologist on staff at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital. He practiced at DHMC for 20 years, delivering anesthesia to young patients and eventually running the anesthesia residency program. He went on to pursue the improvement of managed care as an executive at health insurance plans across New England.

Dr. Hinkle was extremely proud of his four U.S. patents. Two of his inventions, a scented pediatric face mask for anesthetizing children and the Hinkle-Broselow Pediatric Emergency System, are still in use today at hospitals throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Allen's interest in olfaction later inspired him to invent the Hinkle Nosing Glass, a wineglass that enhances the bouquet of wines and spirits.

Dr. Hinkle was born in Pittsburg, Calif., and grew up on army bases across the U.S. and in Japan, before moving to Bolton, Mass., where he attended Nashoba Regional High School. In 1973, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he met his wife, Mary Lou, and from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1976.

Allen valued hard work, patience and generosity. These values were even further on display in his work as an amateur arborist. He planted 365 Colorado Blue Spruce trees at his home in 1983 as a gift for his newborn daughter. The trees were eventually used as Christmas trees by his family and friends.

Allen is survived by his wife of 42 years, Mary Lou Hinkle, his daughter, Melisse Hinkle, and her fiancé, Pearse Lombard, sisters Patricia Fish (Stephen), Elizabeth Marlow, and Kathleen Hinkle, brother, Glenn Hinkle, mother-in-law Ruth Gibson, brothers- and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Sandra Gibson, Pam and Kevin Fagan, Andrew and Katherine Gibson, and David and Anne Gibson, and 11 nieces and nephews.

At Allen's request, there will be no memorial service. In honor of his special relationship with his best buddy, his cairn terrier, Hailey, donations in his memory may be made to the Upper Valley Humane Society or to a charity of one's choice.